Changeable illuminator



Aug. 19, 1924.

W. WILSON ET AL CHANGEABLE ILLUMINATOH Filed May v31. 1923 Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

Nr rice.

WALTER. WILSON AND CHARLES CU. MECI-IALIC, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA..

cnenssssnn rr,:toivrnva'ron.v

To ft/.7l ill/:0m t man con/cem.'

Be it known that we. lilium-in Wilson and CHARLES T. MrcHALrc, Citizens of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Changeable "illuminators; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and use the saine. y

Our invention relates to illuminating devices and more particularly to one adapted for producing constantly changing color effects on stages, in halls, etc.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple yet effective device Iof the class set forth which will project constantly changing colored light rays and will continually change the directions in whichy the rays are projected. v

In carrying out the above end,l an voscillatory carrier is provided for a light ray pro*- jector and another carrier movable bodily with the first named carrier` is provided for successively presenting differently colored screens in the path of the projecte'd'light rays. Further objects are to provide novel means for producing the loscillatory motion of the first named carrier means and for sie inultaneously driving the second carrier.

Vith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed.y the description being supplemented by the accompanyino' drawing.

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in sec tion of an illuminator constructed in accordance with our invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view partly broken away and in horizontal section.

Figure 3 is a front end elevation.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view as indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The preferred form of construction selected for illustration in the present application, includes a. base plate 1 having on lone end a flat hollow gear casing 2, into'which a pair of parallel vertical shafts 3 and 4 extend, the shaft 4 being preferably longer than the other shaft as shown. By suitable gearing 5 in the casing 2, the two shafts 3 andy 4 are geared together and we provide any suitable means for driving the shaft 3, it being preferable to provide the upper end of this shaftv Appiiaimn fue@ May ai.,

with a worm wheel 6 meshing with a worm 7 yon a ,transverse shaft 8 which is mounted on the casing 2 in appropriate bearings, said shaft 8 being drive-n by a belt9 from an electric motor 10.

An arched bearing support 11 rises from the front portion of the casing 2 and carries an upright tubular bearing post 12 into which the shaft 4 extends. At the upper end of the post 12, a horizontal sleeve 13 is escasa? disposed, said sleeve having a depending tubular bearing stub 14 which is turnably received in the upper end of the post. The sleeve 13 receives the rear end of a horizontalcarrying arm 15 and a set screw 16 may well'be threaded through said sleeve to hold the arm 15 therein. LBy means of suitable hanger 17 which is preferably adjustable vertically, a light ray projector 18 is connected with the carrying arm 15.` In front of this projector, we rotatably mount a carrying wheel 19 for a plurality of differ-r ently colored screens 2O which are adapted to be successively disposed in the path of the light rays projected from the projector 18. The wheel 19 is mounted fori movement bodily with the arm 15 when the latter is oscillated and we prefer to employ a suitable stub shaft 21 for said wheel, secured to the projector 18.

For driving the carrying wheel 19, a belt' 22 is engaged with its periphery and extends aroundk a drive pulley 28 on a longitudinal shaft 24 which is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 25 carried by the upper side of the projector 18,'the rear end of said shaft 24 being `connected by a suitable coupling 26 to a 'flexible shaft 27 which extends along the carrying arm 15, being pref erably 'received within a hollowed portion 28 thereof. The rear end of the shaft 27 turns downwardly through the bearing stub 14, f

into the bearing post 12, and is suitably secured to the upper end of the shaft 4. It will thus be seen that rotation of the last named shaft will slowly rotate the Carrier 19.

For oscillating the arni 15iand parts carried thereby simultaneously with rotation 'of the carrying wheel 19 for the color screens,

we have provided a longitudinal operating arm 29 below the arm 1.5, the front end of said arm 29 being received in a fork 30 or other guide which, in the construction shown, extends downwardly from the projector 18. The rear end of the arm 29 hasy a radially adjustable eccentric connection 81`with the worm wheel 6 and said rear end of the arm is provided with a longitudinal slot B2 through which the bearing post 12 extends. By this arrangement, it will be seen that rotation of the wheel 6 will cause/ oscillation of the operating arm 29 about the bearing 12 as a fulcrum, thus eecting` similar oscillation of the arm 15 and the light ray-projecting means carried thereby.

To support the arm 29 against sagging, we have shown a suitable rest 33 carried by the casing 2, but other provision may oit course be made Vtor this purpose it desired.

When the motor 10 is driven.l the shatting 4-27-24 is operated to drive the belt 22 and the screen carrier 19, thus successively presenting the differently colored screens 2O in the path of the projected light rays from the projector 18, to produce constantly changing color effects. Simultaneously with projection of these various colored lights, the arm 15 is slowly oscillated by the operating arm 29 so that the direction in which the colored rays are projected, is constantly changing, thusproducing excepn tionally pleasing illuminating effects.

As excellent results are obtainable trom the details disclosed, they may be :followed if desired, but within the scope oi' the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may be made.

We claim:

l. A changeable illuminating device com-A prising a supporting member, means for moving said member alternately in opposite directions, a light ray projector carried by said supporting member and movable bodily therewith, a plurality of differently colored screens associated with said projector, and means operative during movement ot said supporting member tor successively presentingsaid screens to the projected rays Ytrom said projector.

2. A changeable illuminating device com-v prising a supporting member, means tor moving said member alternately in opposite directions, a light ray arojector carried by said support-ing member and movable bodily therewith, a wheel in a plane transverse to the'projected rays from said projector and movableI bodily with said supporting menr ber, said wheel having a plurality ot diiierently colored screens for successive presenta tion to t-he projected light rays, and means Jfor rotating said wheel during movement of said supporting member.

. 3. A changeable illuminating device com# 'prising a carrying arm and means support-- ing the same for oscillation, a light ray projector carried by said arm, a plurality of diii'erently colored screens and a carrier movable bodily with said arm for successively presentino said screens to the pro jected light rays, means tor oscillating said arm, and means for driving the screen carrier while said arm is oscillating.

1l. A changeable illuminating device com prising an upright post, a horizontally oscillating arm mounted on said post, a light ray project-or carried by said arm, a plural-- ity ot diiierent-ly colored screens and a carrier for successively presenting them to the projected rays from said projector, said carrier being bodily movable with said arm, and driving means for said carrier, including shatting extending upwardly through said post and along said arm.

5. An illuminating device comprising a post` an oscillatory arm mounted on said post for carrying an illuminator, an elongated operating arm for said carrying arm having near one end a longitudinal slot through which said post passes, means con nectcd to said one end of said operating arm tor oscillating the latter, and connecting means between the other end ot said operating arm and said carrying arm tor oscillating the latter.

6. A changeable illuminating device comprising a base, a pair of upright driven shafts geared together and extending upwardly from said base, one of said shafts having an eccentric on its upper end, a bearing post for the other shaft and a support for said post rising from the base, a horizontal carrying arm pivoted for horizontal movement on the upper end of said post, a light ray projector carried by said arm`r a plurality et differently colored screens adapted 'for successive presentation to the rays projected from said projector and a rotatable carrier for said screens carried by said arm, means tor driving said carrier from the aforesaid other shaft, including shaft-ing extending along said carrying arm and into said bearing post, and a horizontal operating arm for said carrying arm having Operative connection therewith at its trent end, the rear end ot said Operatingr arm being connected operatively with the aforesaid eccentric and having a longitudinal slot receiving said bearing post.

In testimony where-of we have hereunto aiix'ed our signatures.

WALTER WILSON, CHARLES T. lliIGI-ALIC.

llO 

